Control apparatus



Nov. 9, 19431 R. E. D] VETTE v 2,333,848 CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1941' QSheets-Sheet 1 as 1 (I00 8 I 89.

INV ENT OR. 321N101 11. E. Divan A1 iornglr' Nov. 9, 1943. R. E. m VETTE 1 -2 CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1941 Anon Leg I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL APPARATUS Randolph E. Di Vette,

Minneapolis. Minn assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application August 9, 1941, Serial No. 406,233

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a motor-driven control device, and more particularly to a device gas burner or the flow of other heating fluid to a heating apparatus. In such a case, the valve is biased to closed position to insure the return of the valve to this position in the event of power failure. Another type of device of this character is a switch which is active only when it is closed. It is desirable in case of failure of the switch actuating mechanism for the switch to be moved to its circuit open or its safe position. The present invention is concernedwith an arrangement wherein a motor positions such an element, the arrangement being particularly adaptable to the positioning of a valve.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved control apparatus of the type wherein a member is biased to a safe position and is operable from said safe position to an active position by a. motor.

A further object is to provide, in such apparatus, an improved connection between the motor and the driven member, whereby the motor is separated from the member after it reaches its active position, so that return movement of the member to its safe position is not impeded by the inertia of the ,motor and connecting parts.

A further object is to provide in such apparatus, an improved type of releasable electro- I magnetic latching mechanism for holding said member in its active position.

A still further object is to provide an improved and simplified control circuit for the motor and electromagnet in a device of the type described.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic sketch of a control system including a motorized mechanism for controlling a fuel supply valve in ac-' cordance with the principles of my invention,

Figure 2 is an elevation of a motor mechanism r including an embodiment of my invention, certain parts being omitted for the sake of clarity, and

Figure 3 is a. cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; showing certain parts of the motor mechanism in detail.

In Figure l i's shown a valve l which may for example, control the supply of fuel to a furnace (not shown). The valve I0 is operated by a stem H, to which is pivotally connected, as at I2, a lever arm l3. The lever arm I3 is pivotally mounted on a shaft |4, extending between a pair of bracket plates l5 and I6 (Figure 2).

The bracket plates l5 and I6 support all the various parts of the valve operating mechanism, and are-provided with foot portions I1 and I8, respectively, so that they may be mounted on the housing of the valve In or on any other suitable support.

The lever arm I3 is biased by a spring or other suitable biasing means, for counter-clock- 'ture member 3|.

wise rotation about the shaft |4, so as to move the valve In to close position. One end of the lever arm I3 is provided with an extension 2| which projects beyond the bracket plates I5 and I8 so that the valve may be manually operated by movement of the extension 2|. A link 22 is pivotally connected, as at 23, to the opposite end of the lever arm I3. The link 22 extends vertically from the lever arm l3 and is provided near its upper end with an elongated slot 24. One side of upper end of link 22 is shaped to form a hook 25, and the other side of the link 22 is shaped to form a shoulder 26.

The slot 24 in the link 22 slidably receives a pin 30 which is mounted on the bracket plate l5. Plvotally mounted on the pin 30 is an arma- The upper end of armature member 3| is bent over to form an armature portion- 32. A tension spring 33 is stretched between the lower end 34 of the armature member 3| and a suitable point 35 on the bracket plate Hi. The tension spring 33 biases the armature member 3| for counter-clockwise rotation about the pivot 30. This counter-clockwise rotation is limited by an insulating member 36 supported on bracket plate I6 and having a portion extending into the path of the armature portion 32 of member 3|.

A latch member 40 is also pivotally mounted on pin 30. The latch member 40 is provided with an upstruck finger portion 4| which is adapted under certain conditions to engage the hook 25 on the link 22. The latch member 40 also has a finger portion 42 extending rearwardly, as viewed in Figure 3, and adapted to engage the adjacent portion of the armature member 3|. A coil spring 43 surrounds the pin 30 and has one of its ends bent to engage the finger portion 42 winding 5| and drives the valve operating mechanism through a gear train generally indicated at 52 having a final gear 53 on which a driving pin 54 is mounted.

rod 15 is pushed inwardly.

Fixed on the same shaft with gear 53 is a cam 55 which operates a flexible switch blade 58 into and out of engagement with a stationary switch member 51. The contacts 58 and 51 are supported by an insulating plate 58, attached to bracket plate I by suitable means such as bolt 59. An electromagnet generally indicated at 88, is mounted on the bracket plate I5 by any suitable means, such ,as a bolt 8| and washer 82. The electromagnet 58 comprises a U-shaped core member 83 and an electrical winding 64. At least one leg of the core member 83 may be provided with a pole shading winding of conventional de' sign as indicated at 85. The strength of the electromagnet 88 and the normal position of the armature portion 32 otarmature member 3| are so designed that the electromagnet cannot attract the armature portion 32 when it is in its retracted position as shown in Figures 1 and 3. When the armature portion 32 is moved into engagement with the core 83 by other means, however, the electromagnet 88 is strong enough to retain the armature member in that position.

A stationary contact 18 is mounted on the insulating member 38 and is adapted to cooperate with a movable contact 1| mounted on a flexible switch blade 12, one end of which is positioned in the path of movement of the upper end of link 22.

Provision is made for maintaining the valve in open position when it has been manually moved there by operation of the extension 2| of the lever arm I3. A rod is mounted through the bracket plate I8 and the'insulating plate 58, and carries at its inner end a collar 18 which is normally spaced from the lever arm I3, but which may be moved into the path of lever arm I3 when the The rod 15 also carries externally or the plate I8 another collar 11, preferably of insulating material. A coil spring 18 mounted about the rod 15 between the collar 11 and theplate I8, serves to bias a position where the collar 18 is free of the lever arm I3. A flexible switch contact 88 is self biased for engagement with a stationary switch contact 8|. Both contacts 88 and 8| are supported by the insulating plate 58, and the flexible switch contact 88 has a portion extending into the path or movement of the collar 11. When the rod 15 is in its normal position, the collar 11 engages the flexible switch member 88 and holds it against the insulating plate 58 and out or engagement with contact 8|. When rod 15 is moved inwardly to hold the valve ID in open position, the collar 11 moves away from the flexible switch member 88, allowing it to engage the stationary contact 8 I.

Power is supplied to the system from power lines 85 and 88 through a transformer 81 having a primary winding 88 and a secondary winding 89. The supply of power to the valve operating mechanism is controlled by a thermostat 98 which may be located in a room or space to which heat is being supplied by the furnace whose fuel supply is controlled by the valve I8. The thermostat 98 comprises a bimetallic element 8| operating a pair of movable switch blades 82 and 93 into engagement with stationary contacts 84 and 85, respectively. The arrangement is such that upon a drop in temperature, the switch blades 92 and 83 are moved to the left, as indicated by the legend in the drawing. As. this movement to the left continues the switch blade 83 first engages the contact 85. If the temperature continues to drop, switch blade 92 engages contact 84. If the direction of the temperature change then reverses, the contacts 82and 94 separate first and the contacts 93 and 95 separate shortly afterwards.

Operation When the parts are in the position shown in the drawings, the valve I8 is closed and the thermostat 88 is satisfied. Let it be assumed that the temperature adjacent the thermostat 98 now begins to fall. As the temperature falls, the switch blade 93 will move to the left until it engages contact 95.

Engagement of contacts 93 and 85 will complete a circuit to energize the winding 64 of electromagnet 88, which circuit may be traced from the member 3| and pivots it upper terminalof transformer secondar winding 89 through a conductor I88, a conductor IIII, contact 95, switch blade 83, bimetallic element 9| a conductor I82, winding 84, a conductor I83, and a conductor I84 to the lower terminal of secondary winding 89. Energization 'of winding 64 will, however, cause no movement of the valve I8, because as previously stated the armature portion 320i armature member 3| is positioned at such a distance from the core 83 and the electromagnet 88 that it is not attracted upon energization of winding 84.

If the temperature adjacent the thermostat 98 continues to drop the switchblade 92 will move into engagement with contact 84. Engagement of contacts 82 .and 84 completes an energizing circuitfor winding 5| of motor 58 which may be traced from the upper terminal of secondary winding 89 through conductors I88 and IN, contacts and 93, contacts 92 and 94, a conductor I85, contacts 18 and 1|, a conductor I88, motor winding 5|, a conductor I81, and conductor I04 to thelower terminal of secondary winding 89.

Energization of motor winding 5| drives the gear train in such a manner'that gear 53 is moved in a clockwise direction. The pin 54 thereupon engages the lower portion of armature about the pin 38 against the tension of spring 33. The pin 54 drives armature member 3| clockwise about the pin 38 until the armature portion 32 moves within the field of electromagnet88 and is attracted thereby into engagement with the core 63. The latch member 48 follows the movement of the armature member 3|. When the armature portion 32 engages core 53 the latching finger 4| is in a position directly above the hook portion 25 of the link 22.

As the gear 53 continues to rotate in aclockwise direction, pin- 54 engages the lower side of shoulder 28 on link 22 and drives the link 22 upwardly, thereby pivoting the lever arm I3 about the shaft I4 and opening the valve by means of the valve stem I I. As the link 22 approaches the upper end of its path of travel the upper surface of the hook 25 engages the latching finger 4| and pushes it to the left against the tension of spring 43. As the link 22 continues to move upward the hook 25 passes by the'latching finger 4| which thereupon snaps back under the influence of spring 43 to a position underneath the book 25.

The upper end of link 22 then engages extension 12 which supports the contact 1| and separates the latter from contact 18, thereby opening the motor energizing circuit previously described.

As soon as, the gear 53 starts to rotate clockwise irom the position shown in. the drawings, however, the cam 55 moves switch blade 58 into and full open positions.

- of contacts 89 engagement with contact 51, "thereby completing a second energizing circuit for motor winding This second circuit may be traced from the upper terminal of secondary winding 89 through conductor I09, a conductor 0, switches 56 and 51, a conductor III, a conductor H2, motor winding 5|, and conductors I01 and I4 to the lower terminal of secondary winding 89.

This second energizing circuit for motor winding 5| is maintained by the cam 55 until pin 54 has driven link 22 to its uppermost position and is then moved on to the right out of engagement with shoulder 26. After pin 54 moves out of en-' gagement with shoulder 26, the link 22 would start to fall back downwardly, but it is prevented by engagement with hook 25 with latching finger 4|. The valve I0 is therefore held latched in its open position.

The valve remains in this position until such time as the winding 64 on the electromagnet 60 is deenergized by opening of contacts 93 and 95.

1 When winding 64 is deenergized, armature memher-3| is returned to the position shown in the drawings by the spring 35, carrying latch member 40 and finger 4| to their corresponding disengaged positions. Spring is then effective to return link 22 and leverl3 to their downward positions, thereby closing valve In.

It will be noted that this circuit provides for a temperature differential between the opening of the valve and the closing of the valve. That is the valve is opened due to closure of contacts 92 and 94. The closure of the valve does not take place, however, until the temperature adjacent thermostat 99 has risen sufliciently to cause switch blade 93 to separate from contact 95. i It should also be observed that this system provides for closure of the valve upon the opening of a contact rather than upon the closing of a contact. It has been found, in systemswhere the closure of the valve depended upon the making of a contact, that.unsafe conditions could prevail in the event that the contacts failed to make properly because of dust or other foreign particles between them. Furthermore, in the present circuit, the valve is always moved to closed posi-,

tion in the event that the power fails while the valve is opened.

Provision is made in the present system for opening the valve manually during periods of power failure, and for automatically returning the valve to control of the thermostat when the power returns. The valve may -be manually opened by pushing the lever extension 2| downwardly, until the valve has reached an open position. The valve may be held in that position by pushing in on the rod 15 and moving the collar 16 into the path of the lever l3 so that it cannot return to closed position. If the extension 2| is then released, the lever arm |3 will move downwardly until it engages collar'16. This en agementv of collar 16 withilever I3 will bind the rod I5 and prevent its return to its normal outward position by the spring 18. The valve will then remain in a position intermediate its closed The movement of the rod 15 to its inward position will allow closure and 8|, thereby completing an energizing circuit for motor winding 5|; This circuit may be traced from the upper terminal of secondarywinding 89 through conductor I90, contacts 80 and 8|, a conductor ||3, conductor H2, motor winding 5|, and'conductors I01 and I94 to the lower terminal of transformer secondary winding 89.

- 26 on link 22.

If power is returned to the system while the valve is just latched open, the motor winding 5| will be energized through the circuit just traced and will drive the gear 53 so that pin 54 will act through link 22 to move the lever arm l3 upwardly and open the valve to full open position. As the lever arm |3 moves away from collar 16, the latter will be released and will return to its normal position under the influence of spring 58. If the thermostat 90 is not calling for heat at this time, the armature 32 will not be held in engagement with electromagnet 60, and the latching finger 4| will not be held in its efiective position. Therefore the valve will close immediately as soon as pin 54 moves out of engagement with shoulder The valve will then be operated as before under control of the thermostat 99.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, other modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and I wish to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position, a driven element connected to said member, a fixed electromagnet, an armature biased to a position wherein said electromagnet cannot -attract said armature, latch means mounted on said armature and positioned when said armature engages said electromagnet so as to be engageable with said element to retain said member in a second active position, an electrical motor, means for establishing a first releasable one-way driving connection between said motor and said armature whereby said motor may drive said armature into proximity with said electromagnet and for releasing said connection upon continued operation of said motor after said armature moves into proximity with said electromagnet, and means for establishing a second recannot attract said armature, latch means mounted on said armature and positioned when said armature engages said electromagnet so as to be engageable with said element'to-retain said member in a second active position; an electrical motor, means for establishing a first releasable one-way driving connection between said motor and said armature whereby said motor may drive said armature into proximity with said e1ectro magnet and for releasing said connection upon continued operation of said motor after said armature moves into proximity with said electromagnet, and means for establishing a second releasable one-way driving connection between said motor and said element whereby said motor may drive said member from said first position to said second position and said element into engagement with said latch, and for releasing said connection upon continued operation of said motor after said member reaches said second position, said two connection establishing means being positioned with respect to a driving element operated by said motor so that said first and second co nections are sequentially established upon continued rotation of the motor in one direction,

3. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position,-a driven element connected to said member, a fixed electromagnet, an armature biased to a position wherein said electromagnet cannot attract said armature, latch means mounted on said armature and positioned when said armature engages said electromagnet so as to be engageable with said element to retain said member in a second active position, a pin pivotally supporting said armature, said element having a slot for slidably receiving said pin, an electrical I motor, and a driving element operated by said motor, said driving element, said armature and said driven element being positioned relative to each other so that upon continued rotation of the motor in one direction said driving element first engages said armature and rotates it about said pin to a position within the field of said electromagnet and then engages said'driven element and translates it with respect to said pin so that said link engages said latch.

4. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position, a. driven member, a fixed electromagnet, an armature biased to a position wherein said electromagnet cannot attract said' armature, latch. means mounted on said armature and positioned when said armature engages said electromagnet so as to be engageable with said element to retain said member in a second active position, a pin pivotally supporting said armature, said element having a slot for slidably receiving said pin, an electrical motor, a gear driven by said motor, a

driving element mounted on said gear for movement in a circular pathupon rotation of said gear, said armature and said driven element being positioned relative to said circular path so that upon continued rotation of the motor in one direction said driving element first engages said armature and rotates it to a position within the field of said electromagnet, then engages said driven element andatranslates it with respect to said pin so that said driven element engages said latch, and then moves out of engagement with both said armature and said driven element,

5. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position, electrical said memberfrom said first safe position to a second active position, means including an electrical circuit for energizing said motor, electrical holding means for retaining said member in said second position, means including an electrical circuit for energizing said holding means, means for rendering the holding means ineffective even though energized until said member reaches said second position, a pair of switches, and means operable in one sense to sequentially close said switches and in an opposite sense to open said switches in reverse sequence, the first of said switches to close being included in said holding means energizing circuit, and the second switch to close being included in said motor energizing circuit,

motor means for driving element connected to said 6. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position; electrical motor means for driving said member from said first safe position to a second active position, means including an electrical circuit for energizing said motor, electrical holding means for retaining said member in said second position, comprising an electromagnet and an armature therefor, said armature being biased to a position wherein the electromagnet is ineffective to attract the armature, means operated by said motor to drive said armature into proximity with said electromagnet, means including an electrical circuit for .energizing said electromagnet, a pair of switches, and means operable in one sense to sequentially close said switches and in an opposite sense to open said switches in reverse sequence, the first of said switches to, close being included in said electromagnet energizing circuit, and the second switch to close being included in said motor energizing circuti.

7. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position, electrical motor means for driving said member from said first safe position to a second active position, means including an electrical circuit for energizing said motor, electrical holding means for retainingsaid member in said second position, comprising an electromagnet and an armature therefor, said armature being biased to a position wherein the electromagnet is ineffective to attract the armature, means operated by said motor to drive said armature into proximity with said electromagnet, means including an electrical circuit for energizing said electromagnet, a pair of switches, and means operable in one sense to sequentially close said switches and in anopposite sense to open said switches in reverse sequence, the first of said switches to close being included in said electromagnet energizing circuit, and the second switch to close being included in said motor energizing circuit, a third switch operated by said motor, and a second energizing circuit for said motor including said third switch to securely maintain energization of said motor during driving of said member until after said member has attained its second position.

for holding said member in a second active position, an electrical motor, means for establishing a releasable one-way driving connection between said motor and said member whereby said motor may drive said member from said first position to said second position and for releasing said connection upon continued operation of said motor after said member reaches said second position, switch means for energizing said motor and said latch means, manually operable means for moving said member and retaining it in a third active position intermediate said first and second position, second switch means connected to "said manual; means to be her is. held in said third position, a circuit controlled by said second switch means for energizing said motor, third switch means operated by said motor, and a second energizing circuit for said motor including said third switch to securely maintain energization of said motor during driving of said member until after said member has attained its second position.

9. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position, a link connected to said member and translatablealong asubstantially linear path to move said member from said first position to a second active position, releasable latch'means for engaging said link when it reaches the end of its path corresponding to said second position,

a driving member movable engageable with a portion of said link to drive said link along said linear path, said driving member moving along said circular path so as to disengage from said link after the link has been closed while said memdrivpn into engagement with said latch, whereby said link is free to return to the end of its path corresponding to said safe position upon release of said latch means, and means for stopping said driving member after I its disengagement from said link, said stopping means being effective to prevent further operation of said driving member until said latch is released.

10. In combination, a member biased to a first position, electrically operated stationary holding means for retaining said member in a second position, an arm associated with said member and movable into cooperative relationship with said holding means, an electric motor, means for transmitting motion from said motor to said member in a direction to drive said member from said first position to said second position, a connection between said transmitting means and said member including separable driving and driven elements, said connection permitting independent movement oi said transmitting means and said member when said elements are separated, a main control switch, a second switch operable in accordance with the position of said member, and means including said motor controlled by said switchesand operative upon closure of said main control switch to cause movement of said member from first to second position, thereby moving said arm into cooperative relationship with said holding means, and then to cause movement of said motion-transmitting means .to a position wherein said elements areseparated and said member is free to return to said first position upon release by said holding. means without moving saidmotiontransmitting means.

11. In combination, a member biased to a first position, holding means for retaining said member in a second position comprising a fixed electromagnet and an armature cooperating therewith, said armature being associated with said member and biased to a position wherein energization of said electromagnet is not sufilcient to attract said armature, an electric motor, means for transmitting motion from said motor to said member and said armature in a direction to drive said member from said first position to said second position and said armature into engagement with said electromagnet, amonnection between said transmitting means, said member, and said armature including separable driving and driven elements, said connection permitting independent movement of said transmitting means and said member when said elements are separated, a main control switch, a second switch operable in accordance with the position of said member, and means including said motor controlled by said switches and operative upon closure of said main control switch to cause movement of said member from first to second position, thereby engaging said armature with said electromagnet, and thereafter to cause movement of said motion-transmitting .means to a position wherein said elements are separated and said member" is free to return to said first position upon release by said electromagnet without moving said motion-transmitting means.

12. In combination, a member biased to a first position, electrically operated stationary holding means for retaining said member in a second position, an arm associated with said member and movable into cooperative relationship with said holding means, a rotary electrical motor, means including a gear train for transmitting motion from said motor to said member in a direction to drivesaid member from said first position to said second position, a connection between said transmitting means and said member including separable driving and driven elements, said connection permitting independent movement of said transmitting means and said member when said elements are separated, a main control switch, a second switch operable in accordance with the position of said member, and means including said motor controlled by said switches and operative upon closure of said main control switch' to cause movement of said member from first to second position, thereby moving said arm into cooperative relationship with said holding means, and then to cause movement of said motion-transmitting means to a position wherein said elements are separated and said member is free to return to said first position upon release by said holding means without moving said motion-transmitting means and said gear train and rotating said motor.

13. In combination, a member biased to a first position, holding means for. retaining said member in a second position comprising a fixed electromagnet and an armature cooperating therewith, an electric motor, means ior transmitting motion from said motor to said member in a. direction to drive said member from its first .position to its second position, a connection between said motion transmitting means and said member including separable driving and driven elements, said connection permitting independent movement of said-transmitting means and said member when said elements are separated, circuit means for energizing said motor and said electromagnet, switch means for controlling said circuit means, said motor being operative upon energization thereof to drive said member from said first position to said second position and thereafter to drive said motion transmitting means to a position wherein said elements are separated and said member is free to return to said first position upon release by said electromagnet without causing engagement of said elements.

14. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position and movable to a second active position, a driven element connected to said member and effective when moved along'a predetermined path to move said member from said first to said second position, releasable holding means for maintaining said element at the end of its path corresponding to said second position, a driving element movable along an arcuatepath so as to operate said driven element, said driving element moving along said arcuate path so as to move said driven element to the end of its path corresponding to said second position, and thereafter to move along said arcuate path so as to separate from the path of said driven element, whereby said driven element is free to return to the end of its path corresponding to said first position upon release of said holding means, and means for stopping said driving element after its separation from the path of the driven element, said stopping means being effective to prevent further operation of said driving element until said holding means is released.

15, In combination, a member biased to a first safe position, electrical motor means for driving said member fromsaid first safe position to a second active position, means including an electrical circuit for energizing said motor, electrical holding means for retaining said member in said second position, comprising an electromagnet operation of and an armature therefor, said armature being biased to a position wherein the electromagnet is ineifective to attract the armature, means operated by said motor to drive said armature into proximity with said electromagnet, means including an electrical circuit for energizing said electromagnet, means for establishing a releasable one-way driving connection between said motor and said armature, whereby said motor may drive said armature into proximity with said electromagnet and for releasing said connection upon continued operation of said motor after said armature moves into proximity with said electromagnet, means for establishing a second releasable one-way driving connection between said motor and said member whereby said motor may drive said member to said second position, and for releasing said connection upon continued said motor after said member has second position, and switch means said motor for discontinuing the thereof after said connections are reached said operated by energization released.

16. In combination, a member biased to a first safe position, electric motor means for driving said member from said first position to a second active position, latch means for holding said memberin said second position, a releasable driving connection between said motor and said member, said connection including means efiective to release saidmotor therefrom upon continued energization of said motor after said member is latched in said second position, a first switch for controlling operation or said member, a second switch responsive to the position of said member and operated to open position when said member reaches said second position, a first circuit for energizing said motor including said first and second switches in series, a third switch operated by said motor to open position after said member has reached said second position, and a second circuit; for energizing said motor including said third switch to securely maintain energization of said motor during driving of said member and for a predetermined time after said member is latched so as to release said connection.

17. In combination, a device biased to a first safe position, a driven element connected to said device, a fixed electromagnet, an armature member biased away from engagement with said electromagnet, latch means mounted on said armature member and positioned when said armature engages said electromagnet so'as to be engage able with said element to retain the device in a second active position, means including an electrical motor for driving said armature into engagement with said electromagnet and said element into engagement with said latch, means for controlling the energization of said motor including a switch operable by said element, said switch being mounted relative to said element so that the switch is operatively engaged by the element when the element is in latch engaging position, said switch also being mounted relative to said armature member to limit the movement of said armature member away from said electromagnet.

18. In combination, a device to be operated to plurality of positions, means for actuating said device from one of said positions to another thereof comprising electric motor means, means for returning said device to said one position,

means for controlling the energization of said motor means comprising a pair of switches conneoted in parallel circuits, and means including said motor means for opening and closing said switches in accordance with the relative positions of said motor means and said device, said last-named means being operable to close both said switches while said device is in said one position, thereby energizing said motor means, and operating during the consequent movements of said motor means and said device to sequentially open both said switches, at least the last of said switches to open being opened after said device has reached said other position.

19. In combination, a device to be operated between a safe position and an active position, electric motor means, a one-way driving connection between said motor means and said device whereby said motor means may move said device from said safe position to said active position, means for latching said device in said active position, electromagnetic means for controlling said latching means, means operable when said latching means is released by said electromagnetic means for actuating said device from said active position to said safe position without moving said motor means, means for controlling the operation of said motor means including two switches connected in parallel circuits, and means including said motor means for operating said switches in accordance with the relative positions of said motor means and said device, said last-named means being operable to close both of said switches while said device is in said safe position, and operating during the consequent movements of said motor means and device to sequentially open both said switches, at least the last of said switches toopen being opened after said. device has reached said active position. I

20. In combination, a device to be operated between a safe position and an active position, electric motor means, a one-way driving connection between said motor means and said device whereby said motor means may move said device from said safe position to said active position, means for latching said device in said active position, electromagnetic means for controlling said latching means, means operable when said latching means is released by said electromag netic means for actuating said device from said active position to said safe position without moving said motor means, a first switch, means for operating said first switch to open position when said device moves to said active position and for operating said first switch to closed position when said device moves to said safe position, means including an electrical circuit consaid motor for closing said second switch only after closure of said first switch and effective to maintain said second switch in closed position during operation of said device by said motor and to open said second switch only after said device has been driven to said active position by said motor, and second electrical circuit means including said second switch to maintain energization of said motor as long as said second switch is closed.

RANDOLPH E. DI VETTE. 

